As U.S. farms expand and agricultural machinery travels farther from home bases, the risks of operating on public roads are increasing. Though modern equipment includes advanced safety features like headlights, taillights, flashing amber lights, and reflective tape, safety remains a concern-especially during peak movement seasons like harvest.

During National Farm Safety and Health Week, experts are urging farmers and rural drivers alike to improve road-sharing practices. John Shutske, agricultural safety and health specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, emphasized in a recent webinar that accidents involving farm equipment and vehicles can occur in seconds-often with devastating consequences.

"The difference in speed between cars and tractors leaves drivers with just 11 seconds to react in ideal conditions," Shutske said. Factors like curves, hills, distracted driving, and wet roads can cut that time dramatically. "There are lots of opportunities for issues."

Shutske identifies three pillars of rural road safety: the person, the environment, and the agent (or the equipment itself).

People, particularly those operating farm equipment, play a key role. With the average U.S. farmer now around 60 years old, slower reflexes can pose risks in high-pressure situations. For passenger vehicle drivers, distraction and excessive speed are two of the biggest dangers.

The environment also matters. Gravel versus paved roads, visibility over hills, poor signage, narrow shoulders, and road surface conditions all affect the likelihood of a crash.

Then there's the agent: the size, weight, and speed of the equipment. A loaded grain cart can weigh up to 50,000 pounds-and machinery that heavy has limited mobility and longer stopping distances.

One major theme from the webinar was conspicuity-how visible the equipment is to other drivers. All farm machinery built since 2017 is required to have headlights, taillights, amber flashers, and reflectors, making them more noticeable on public roads.

But older machinery can and should be upgraded. For around $300, farmers can retrofit equipment with magnet-mounted LED lighting kits. Reflective tape is another low-cost addition that dramatically boosts visibility. "I really encourage the use of these products," Shutske said.

As farms operate over longer distances and rural areas grow more suburban, some producers are switching to trailering equipment instead of driving it-reducing the number of slow-moving vehicles on roads. This, however, brings its own safety considerations. Loading, unloading, securing, and balancing equipment safely are essential when using trailers. Brakes must be functional and loads well-distributed.

Looking ahead, new technology could reshape rural road safety. Shutske points to autonomous farm machinery as an emerging factor. Some units may be operator-controlled on roads, while others could be moved exclusively by trailer.

"Future research will need to be done and this should be a priority," Shutske noted. Transportation policy, road use rules, and farm safety training will need to evolve as ag tech continues to advance.

As the line between farm fields and public roads becomes more traveled, ensuring every piece of machinery is seen, secured, and safely operated is no longer optional-it's essential to protect lives and livelihoods in America's heartland.